f13.net forums - Dragon Empires Cancelled

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June 23, 2025, 10:38:05 PM

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Dragon Empires development ceased due to technical issues

Codemasters has taken the decision to cancel further development of Dragon Empires, the company’s massively multiplayer online role playing project.

Dragon Empires received incredible support from its online community and won acclaim from PC and online media while in development. However, technical issues have resulted in the project’s discontinuation.

Many of the game’s development team, including programmers and artists, are being transferred to Codemasters’ internal development studios to work on current and future titles.

The decision to close Dragon Empires’ development does not impact on Codemasters’ long-term ambitions in the massively multiplayer online gaming market and the company remains very active in evaluating future opportunities.

The Dragon Empires website and its popular community forums will remain live at www.codemasters.com/dragonempires for the immediate future.

ha. 2+ years of email spam for nothing.

Was this the 'look at our amazing weather systems' game?

--
Alkiera

No I believe that is Darkness and light or something like that.

kaid

Quote from: Mesozoic

ha. 2+ years of email spam for nothing.

My thoughts exactly. They were in beta weren't they, was anyone in on that?

They were in early pre-beta 0 or some such bullshit, continually spamming me with newsletters, had just lost their old community guy and had backstory written by Piers Anthony. They were supposed to have PVP and large-scale wars that had to be scheduled. I was interested, but not overly excited.

After all the delays in beta, I'm just not surprised by this at all.

God I love watching message board's of just-killed games.

Quote from: Satine, DE Community Manager

Guys and gals,

Sorry for the delay in posting, as you can imagine I have been involved in meetings all morning. I am extrememly sad to bring this bad news to you all. I am myself indeed quite shocked at the events of today.

As you are all aware, we did have some difficulty with certain aspects of the code, namely the server issues. Over the last month or two we have been reviewing the situation and looking for ways to resolve them, which inlcuded seeking external help.

However, after a full, in-depth analysis, research and review, it has been decided by the board that the project has too many risks to be considered viable at this time.

Quote from: some random /sadf poster

*calms herself down*

Oki, if this horrible thing will happen... we need to find a way to keep in touch. i wont lose all my friends for this.

*SCREAMS*
*cries*

Quote from: not quite as /sadf as the above

3 years of my life waisted waiting for a game that never was

Quote from: too /sadf for words

*cries* i cant stop comparing all MMORPG's to DE... and none come out on top of what DE was going to be

Was I ever this patethetic?

3...2...1..

Full forum lockdown!

Too bad, I really wanted to RP my Heroin-addicted zombie chick in the DE Roleplay forum.

Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust, ow
Another one bites the dust, hey hey
Another one bites the dust, heeeeeeeeey

Bruce

If they are dumping the game for technical reasons, I don't think Codemasters is an appropriate name for their company. Maybe Codecompetent or Codefamiliar? Or maybe they need to grind some more skills points and become CodeGrandmasters.

I was in beta 0.5 and was not overly impressed. All you could do is run around and the default screen resolution was terrible. Lots of bugs just in the landscape. No combat, no mobs. I was expecting the next phase of beta to start any day now. Not exactly suprised by this.

I will say something positive about the game: Even though the screen resolution was low, they did have some breathtaking landscapes and the weather effects were nicely done. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen so many trees in a forest before.

Speaking of old and busted MMOG's that never were, anyone else remember Awakening Project?

I've expected this announcement for 8 months.

Quote from: Jamiko

I will say something positive about the game: Even though the screen resolution was low, they did have some breathtaking landscapes and the weather effects were nicely done. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen so many trees in a forest before.

Yes, but another nice terrain generator isn't something to consider valuable.

Was this the game where you spend real money for in game items?

You're thinking of Project Entropia.

So what was going to make the game different anyway?

Quote from: Comstar

So what was going to make the game different anyway?

From the FAQ:

Quote

Question:
What makes Dragon Empires different from other online roleplaying games?
Answer:
Dragon Empires is fast paced with players determining the feel of the world. As different clans get control of different cities they will change the town´s economy to suit themselves. How long they remain in charge will depend on how well they can defend their land and how much others want to contest them for ownership rights. Some clans will be well liked and rule for a long period, others may be greedy for wealth and notoriety, possibly leading to short and bloody reigns. Dragon Empires also has a full and detailed crafting system which lets you make things even when you´re offline and one of the most beautiful worlds to ever grace a computer screen!

Bruce

Quote from: SirBruce

Quote from: Comstar

So what was going to make the game different anyway?

From the FAQ:

Quote

Bruce

So, it was Shadowbane with crafting. Well, at least they killed it instead of releasing the steaming pile upon unsuspecting PVP+ MMO fans, something WolfPack didn't manage to do.

--
Alkiera

Quote from: Mesozoic

ha. 2+ years of email spam for nothing.

DAMNIT! This was the exact same though I had.

Quote from: Comstar

So what was going to make the game different anyway?

It... it... it just was, okay! It was going to be the greatest game ever, with dragons and stuff...

*ahem*

Actually, all the cancellations of pre-beta mmogs is possibly a good thing. It's showing that the standards have been generally raised - no more "release and patch it up later" to the same extent of SB.

Given the frequency of these announcements lately, perhaps it is time for a sticky post concerning game cancellations?

Quote from: Mi_Tes

Given the frequency of these announcements lately, perhaps it is time for a sticky post concerning game cancellations?

Well, I for one don't think they happen that frequently - and some even return from the dead. When this game manages to stay alive, there can be hope for everybody.

This should work:

http://www.petitiononline.com/Kronic/petition.html

Quote

To: Gamers of the world
Here is a petition to reinstate the development of the highly popular MMORPG Dragon Empires - this is not a 'one man' attempt to get the game reinstated -but an attempt to reinstate it from the whole community. Please take the time to read and sign this petition.

The following statement posted on September 3rd 2004 is taken from DragonEmpires.com

"Dragon Empires development ceased due to technical issues
Codemasters has taken the decision to cancel further development of Dragon Empires, the company’s massively multiplayer online role playing project.

Dragon Empires received incredible support from its online community and won acclaim from PC and online media while in development. However, technical issues have resulted in the project’s discontinuation.

Many of the game’s development team, including programmers and artists, are being transferred to Codemasters’ internal development studios to work on current and future titles.

The decision to close Dragon Empires’ development does not impact on Codemasters’ long-term ambitions in the massively multiplayer online gaming market and the company remains very active in evaluating future opportunities.

The Dragon Empires website and its popular community forums will remain live at www.codemasters.com/dragonempires for the immediate future."

This is the statement released by Codemasters regarding the cancellation of Dragon Empires. Dragon Empires has been in production for 3 years - and I as far as I know - it was within its final year or so of being developed, having already started Beta-0 and 0.5 and it was on the verge of Beta-1. The 'technical issues' mentioned in the above news post was the server code - which was a problem, but a problem that I have learned was not un-fixable - it would just take a little time and more money to fix - with the possibility of calling in other developers to fix it.
The popularity of Dragon Empires was huge - with hundreds of active community members and around 40 pre-release clans - and I also know there were around one hundred thousand people registered for the Beta testing. It has been noted already on the forums that many people will NEVER trust codemasters again unless Dragon Empires was reinstated it has also been stated that the credibility of any further MMORPG's released/developed by Codemasters has already taken a servire knock before they even start. Dragon Empires was hyped by many websites/fans/gamers to be the greatest MMORPG ever, and one of the greatest games ever! So why cancel it so close to when it could of been finnished? Are the "fat cats" of Codemasters not true gamers? After all - shouldnt that be what games development companies should be all about - gamers. I for-one at this moment will never purchase another Codemasters game again as I have lost all faith and respect for Codemasters as a company - as if they cancel such a popular game 3 years into development than is any game really safe? I know many other people share the same feelings as I. Dragon Empire's cancellation is a severe blow to the development of the MMORPG genre, one which might never be cured, at least it wont for Codemasters. I will send links of this petition to many popular gaming websites and fansites and I would hope thousands of people will sign it - for the good of all gamers. As how would you feel if the game you had been activly following for 3 years was just cancelled in the blink of an eye? So please take the time to sign this petition. Thankyou.

Further references and thaughs on this matter can be found here
www.dragonempires.com
and in various here threads here
http://community.codemasters.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=29

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

... or we could just stifle our tears and move on.

Ok... I'm over it, now.

If somebody takes the time to say, "We've stopped production because making a MMORPG is too hard", then I think I'm content to let them sit with that decision.

MMORPG production being too hard didn't stop most people, and the results were less than enjoyable.

Goddamnit, I want to find the lousy sumbitch that came up with the idea of online petitions and STAB HIM DIRECTLY IN HIS BEADY LITTLE EYES.

I love the sense of entitlement inherit in a petition that orders a corporation to spend their money on something that will not be profitable just to please 234 hard-up fanbois.

Here's a few hints, petition boy.

100,000 registered beta testers does not equal 100,000 people willing to pay for a game. It doesn't even equal 100,000 unique folks in the beta test. Corporations do not care about your "trust" just your money. Also, all MMOG's have been hyped at one time or another to be the "greatest MMOG EVAR!" by both the companies making them and the no-life fanbois who follow them.

Quote

As how would you feel if the game you had been activly following for 3 years was just cancelled in the blink of an eye?

That's not a complete sentence. Also, if it were me, I'd GET ON WITH MY FUCKING LIFE.

GAH.

The sense of entitlement sets in about 3 seconds after a gamer hears the game title. Its amazing how quickly the sense of ownership (pwnership?) sets in. And not in a good "I feel connected to this game and this community" way, but in a bad "u guyz hav ruind my gaem" way.